Obituary for Mary “Tinky” Turner – Seacoastonline.com

Mary “Tiky” Turner

PORTSMOUTH – Beloved matriarch Mary “Tinky” Turner of Somersworph, NH, passed away peacefully at her home on January 9, 2022 at the age of 91.

She was born on December 1, 1930 in Wichita, Kansas to Charles and Winifred Tinckam of London, England. She attended Cony High School in Augusta, Maine and received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from the University of New Hampshire. After graduating in 1969, she enjoyed teaching at Exeter Junior High School for 15 years. Mary retired in 1984 and began working for the Portsmouth Area Home Care Agency in 1987.

Mary was an active and faithful member of St. John’s Church in Portsmouth, NH for over 60 years. She was involved in many of its ministries including choir, making prayer shawls, meals for Cross Roads House, vestry, church mass and the new ministerial search committee which brought Tim Rich to St. John’s Congregation. She was proud to be the first lay Eucharistic minister of St. John.

Aside from her work, church, and family activities, Mary was engaged in many hobbies, interests, and volunteer work. She was an avid reader and puzzler. She was a skilled gardener and had the most beautiful flowers on the block. She generously shared bouquets and cuttings, and during the summer her home had fresh arrangements in every room. When their hands weren’t in the dirt, they were busy sewing, sewing, and knitting. She made quilts for all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was known for her “I Spy” quilts, which she made for friends’ and friends of friends’ newborns. She also sewed dozens of clothes for Appalachian children through Tender Loving Care Ministries.

An adventurer at heart, Mary’s escapades were planned and sometimes unplanned. Whether the destination was known or unknown, she didn’t care. She was gone on a whim – undaunted, determined and full of joy. She challenged herself and took part in a sea voyage to Outward Bound. She traveled far and wide with friends and daughters. She visited Australia, Canada, England, Iceland, Kenya, Tanzania, New Zealand, Thailand, California, Florida and many other countries. She incorporated volunteer work into her travels, spending a month at an orphanage in Romania and a week in New Orleans after Katrina. Locally, she was a volunteer at Webster at Rye in Rye, NH.

She loved cooking and always cooked extra to share with family, friends and neighbors. Their specialties included baked beans, butter crunch, brownies, cookies, danishes, fudge and jams. Her recipes have been shared with loved ones and will continue to be enjoyed.

Mary is survived by five daughters, Lynda and Gary Farrow, Danville, VT, Leslie Joy Turner, Anderson, SC, Lisa and Bruce Renna, Danbury, CT, Penny and Mark Gallo, Barefoot Bay, FL, and Michele and Mark Sandler. Arch, NH; nine grandchildren, Matthew and Kimberly Farrow, Hudson, MA, Kevin Farrow, Vacaville, CA, Andrew and Kelly Renna, Easton, CT, Emily and Mike Beers, Danbury, CT, Heather Strider, Rochester, NH, Kelsey Santa Barbara, and Ryan Arsenault , Portsmouth, NH; Kori Santa Barbara, Portsmouth, NH; Riley and Christy Sandler, Woodstock, VT; Griffin Sandler, Manchester, NH; and ten great-grandchildren, Yannah, Jackson, Addison, Mason, Ryan, Harper, Jake, Katelyn, Aria, and Callie. In addition to her parents, Mary is also deceased by her sister Shirley MacCormack.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday 3 June 2022 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel St, Portsmouth, NH 03801. (Time to be determined) Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers for the young organist serving at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

Arrangements under the care of Fowler-Kennedy Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, Maynard. To share a memory or offer condolences, visit: www.fowler-kennedy.com.